September is Campus Fire Prevention Month: Your building is part of the fire-safety team
Fire alarms, sprinklers, fire doors and extinguishers are there to protect you. Let them do their jobs.
When you walk through a Wichita State University building, you probably don't give much thought to the equipment around you.
You may see a red fire alarm pull station on the wall, a sprinkler head above you, a fire extinguisher in a cabinet, an illuminated EXIT sign or a heavy door separating one part of the building from another.
These aren't just features of the building.
They are part of the building's fire-protection system.
During Campus Fire Safety Month, take a few minutes to understand what these systems do, and what you can do to make sure they are ready when they're needed.
1. Fire alarms are there to give you time to escape
A fire alarm's most important job is to warn building occupants that there may be a fire and that they need to take action.
That warning may come from smoke detectors, heat detectors, manual pull stations or other components of the fire alarm system.
When you hear an alarm, don't assume someone else will investigate it.
The alarm is your signal to take action.
As we discussed in the first article two weeks ago, know two ways out of the buildings where you spend time and be prepared to evacuate when an alarm sounds.
Never silence, cover, disconnect or otherwise tamper with a fire alarm device.
If you notice a damaged pull station, detector, horn, strobe or other fire alarm component, report it.
2. Sprinklers don't all go off at once
Movies and television often show an entire room suddenly filling with water when one sprinkler activates.
That's not how automatic sprinklers normally work.
The Center for Campus Fire Safety explains that sprinkler heads operate individually. A sprinkler activates when the heat from a fire causes its heat-sensitive element to reach its operating temperature. Other sprinklers do not automatically activate simply because one sprinkler has opened.
The water discharged by an operating sprinkler helps control the fire and can slow or prevent its spread.
WSU conducts required annual fire sprinkler inspections and testing to make sure these important systems are functioning properly.
Don't hang anything from a sprinkler head or pipe.
Don't cover sprinkler heads or place objects where they could interfere with the sprinkler's ability to operate.
And never attempt to shut off or tamper with a sprinkler system.
3. Keep fire doors closed
That heavy door you walk through every day may have an important job during a fire.
Fire-rated doors and other building features are designed to help slow the movement of fire and smoke through a building.
WSU's current Door Safety, Hardware and Egress Policy prohibits propping doors open unless they are held open by an approved device integrated with the building's fire alarm system.
That means a door should not be held open with:
- A trash can
- A chair
- A doorstop
- A box
- A backpack
- Furniture
- Other objects
If you see a fire door being improperly propped open, don't assume it's harmless.
A door that is supposed to close needs to be able to close.
4. Keep exits and evacuation routes clear
During an emergency, every second and every inch of an evacuation route can matter.
Hallways, stairways and exit doors need to remain clear so occupants can get out and emergency responders can get in.
WSU's door and egress policy requires door egress paths to remain clear and fully operable. It also prohibits items such as carts, boxes, trash receptacles, furniture and decorations from obstructing egress widths or door-swing paths.
Don't store personal belongings, equipment or other items in corridors or stairways.
What seems like a convenient place to leave something can become an obstacle during an emergency.
If you see an obstruction that could interfere with evacuation, report it.
5. Know where the fire extinguishers are
Fire extinguishers are another important part of a building's fire-protection system.
You don't need to be a firefighter to know where the nearest extinguisher is located.
Take a moment to notice where extinguishers are located in the buildings where you spend time.
But remember: an extinguisher is not a substitute for evacuation.
WSU guidance emphasizes using fire extinguishers only on small fires and only when it appears safe to do so. Never put yourself in danger attempting to fight a fire.
If a fire is growing, producing heavy smoke or blocking your escape route, leave immediately.
6. Don't hide, disable or tamper with fire-safety equipment
Fire-safety equipment sometimes becomes inconvenient.
A detector may be located near an area where someone wants to hang something. A sprinkler may be in the way of a decoration. A fire extinguisher cabinet may seem like a good place to store something.
Don't move, cover, disconnect, disable or otherwise tamper with fire-safety equipment.
These systems are designed to be available when they are needed — not only when they are convenient.
Tampering with fire-safety equipment isn't just dangerous; it can have serious legal consequences.
Under the Kansas Fire Prevention Code, violating the code, its regulations or a lawful order issued by the state fire marshal can be a Class B misdemeanor, punishable by up to six months in county jail and a fine of up to $1,000.
But the consequences can become far more serious if someone's actions result in a person's death.
If a person recklessly tampers with or disables fire-safety equipment and that conduct causes someone's death, the person could potentially face involuntary manslaughter, a severity level five person felony under Kansas law. The sentence would depend on the circumstances and the person's criminal history, and a felony conviction at severity levels one through five can carry a fine of up to $300,000 in addition to the applicable prison sentence under the Kansas sentencing guidelines.
Additional criminal charges could also apply depending on what was done, what equipment was damaged and what happened as a result.
A fire alarm, sprinkler, fire extinguisher or other life-safety device is not something to disable for convenience, as a prank or to avoid an inconvenience. Someone's life may depend on it working when it is needed.
If you need something moved or believe a fire-safety device is creating a problem, contact the appropriate WSU department instead of modifying the equipment yourself.
Your five-minute fire-safety challenge
This week's challenge is to take a short walk through the building where you spend the most time.
See if you can find:
- A fire alarm pull station.
- A fire extinguisher.
- A sprinkler head.
- An illuminated EXIT sign.
- A fire door.
Now ask yourself:
Are any of these systems blocked, damaged, covered or being used incorrectly?
If you find a problem, report it.
Five minutes of awareness today can help make the building safer for everyone tomorrow.
Learn more about campus fire safety
The Center for Campus Fire Safety is a national nonprofit organization dedicated to reducing the loss of life from fire on college and university campuses. CCFS provides educational programs and resources for students, educators and the greater campus community.
For more student fire safety information and tips, visit Campus Fire and Life Safety for Students.